Once upon a time...beyond Peppermint Village and up to X-mas Mountain there was a wonderful Christmas tree forest farm. All the villagers would come and pick the perfect tree for their Christmas. It was a magical place, especially during the during the Christmas season.

Magic, as the folks went from tree to tree, and the children ran around searching also. The laughter of the children rang through the air. Even the deer and the rabbits, romped and played in the background. No one in Peppermint Village ever hunted or harmed the wildlife. All was in harmony and joy.

Well almost....all the Christmas trees stood straight and tall, and reached out their branches in greeting. All but one little misshape tree. No matter how straight he stood, he was crooked. His tree limbs, he could not reach out with, as they had all seemed to have a mind of their own. They went every which way. Which made perfect shelter to birds, and many nested there.

Christmas was not a favorite time of year for this little misshape fellow. He was not unnoticed. The children would stop and giggle. The grown ups would say," I don't know why they just don't get rid of that tree. It doesn't fit in with all these beautiful trees." "Boy is that an ugly tree!" "I would not use that tree if it were the last tree around!" And the little tree had to just stand there and listen. All he could do was cry tears of sap, which no one saw. He could not wait for the villagers to find their trees so they would leave him alone. But he longed to belong. He knew if he was only given a chance, he could make a make someone happy....if given the chance.

All the other trees would tease and make fun of him when the villagers were gone. "Grow up already!" "Face it kid, no one wants you." " Your going to be used for garland one year! Your good for nothing else!" He hung his branches and wished he would be uprooted by a storm. But that never happened... his roots were strongly planted in the earth.

It was nearly Christmas eve. All the folks of Peppermint Village had chosen their trees. The snow had begun to fall, and the birds and squirrels nestled and cuddle deep in the deformed tree branches. At least he was good for something.

The voices of children singing filled the air with sweetness. But these children did not have beautiful winter clothes as he had seen on other children. Their hair was not in curls and bows but a bit in disarray. The shoes and boots were tattered and torn. But there faces were beautiful, they glowed like angels, and voices like harps.

Mr.E.Green was with them, he took care of the trees here and made the sales. As they all approached the tree no one wanted, Mr. Green said to the lady with the children, " If you would take this tree, this special tree, I will give it too you. I will dig up the roots and you can have it." "Children, would this tree make a good tree for us?"

The children gathered around in silence and carefully inspected the little tree. Their eyes wide and a smile on every face. "He is just like us!" they shouted with glee."Let's take him home with us!" Mr.Green dug up the now wanted tree and brought it down X-mas Mountain into Peppermint village. The other trees stared in amazement, ashamed they were not good enough for these golden children.

The children wanted to plant and keep their special tree out in the yard. Mr.Green planted it, and the children began to decorate their tree with love. The birds and squirrels were not afraid, so they stayed in the branches. The children adorned the tree with garland of popcorn and cranberries, foil stars and red bows. Sprigs of holly tied with left over pieces of yarn and pinecones filled in any bare spaces. Dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks and a homemade button and rag angel topped the tree. And it was beautiful...

People came from miles around, from Candycane town and Lemondrop Village, from cities like Candlebrite and Pointsettia. They all agreed it was the most wonderful tree they had ever seen. They all laid presents for the children of the orphanage under the tree. Many wanted to give homes to the children.

Mr.Green brought a large turkey for the Christmas dinner. As he was leaving he stopped at the tree.. gently stroked a branch. " I have saved you all these years, I always knew you were special. I had to find the right home for you, where you  would be loved for what you were and not how you looked. Now with love you are perfect."

The once misshape and unwanted tree now understood, and he was now a very wanted and needed tree. And now , he was flawless, refined and made perfect through love. A gift given and received through the magic of the Christmas season, the hope and peace forevermore.

And the now wanted tree stands tall and full and lives happily ever after......

Return to Christmas Page